The essential terminology of contracts
A 15-unit, interactive, online course teaching the essential Legal English terminology in the area of the law of contract law, including basic concepts in contract law, remedies, non-competition agreements and confidentiality, assignment and third party rights, parol evidence, guarantees, indemnities, warranties, conditions and other contract terms.
Course description
The “Legal English of Contracts Law” presents key Legal English terminology in short online reading and listening passages. The exercises which follow each reading or listening passage include multiple choice, fill-in-the-blanks, true-false and matching exercises that are designed to help you learn the vocabulary through context, testing and reinforcement. All of your results are stored in a database which you can access at any time to monitor your progress.
Course duration
The basic version of the course provides 20-25 hours of online self-study. The professional version includes a further 7.5 hours of private instruction by a TransLegal lawyer-linguist instructor who is assigned as your personal tutor.
- interactive reading exercises
- interactive listening exercises
- writing exercises (professional version)
- speaking exercises (professional version)
- vocabulary quizzes
- authentic contracts
- language of contract formation
- contract drafting practice (professional version)
- contract remedies vocabulary
- course certificate upon completion
Course contents
Introduction to Contracts I
Language used in describing the basics of contract formation and specific contract clauses (examples of vocabulary: assignment, boilerplate, counter-offer, indemnification, liquidated damages, severability)
Introduction to Contracts II
Terminology associated with the defences to contract formation and other common law and statutory concepts
(examples: consideration, delegate, duress, fraud, nominal)
Contract Remedies I
Vocabulary to describe the concepts of remedies and the various types of damages (examples: equitable relief, exemplary, mitigation, punitive)
Contract Remedies II
How lawyers talk about the various forms of contractual remedies and relief (examples: declaratory judgment, injunction, laches, specific performance)
Non-Competition and Confidentiality
Describing valid examples of non-competition clauses and confidentiality undertakings (examples: know-how, proprietary information, trade secrets)
Guarantees, Indemnities, Representations & Warranties
Language relating to assurances contained in various agreements (examples: guarantee, indemnity, misrepresentation, puffery)
Assignment and Third-Party Rights
Terms relating to the transfer of rights or obligations under an agreement (examples: beneficiary, successors, privity)
Conditions and other Contract Terms
Describing the satisfaction of certain contractual conditions (examples: conditions precedent/subsequent, material adverse change)
Parol Evidence & Implied Terms
The applicability of extrinsic circumstances and implicit terms when interpreting contracts (examples: course of dealing, integration, merchantability)
Performance
Vocabulary used when analysing performance under a contract (examples: frustration, impossibility, perfect tender)
Standard Forms and Advertised Offers
Terminology associated with templates and standard agreements (examples: adhesion, invitation to treat, unconscionability)
Termination
Vocabulary relating to the cessation of agreements (examples: accord and satisfaction, repudiation, rescission)
Contract Interpretation
Language relating to the manner in which contracts are construed (examples: ambiguity, construction, trade usage)
Public Procurement
Vocabulary necessary to explain bidding on government contracts (examples: auction, bid rigging, transparency)
Licence Agreements
Vocabulary relating to the various forms of licensing (examples: arm’s length, shrink wrap, upfront royalty)
Final Examination
Comprehensive test of the vocabulary taught.
